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Reviewed by: Emily McFarlane, Elementary School Librarian Title: Knots Author: Colleen Frakes
Publisher: HarperAlley
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 3-7 Genre/Type of Book: Graphic Novel, Realistic Fiction
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Family drama, CPS
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I did not remember having this book on hold at all in SORA, but think I was struck by the cover.
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
Family drama, bad hair days, and difficulty at school- could life get any worse?
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Review:
Norah is just about to start middle school after moving to Cheney just two years ago. Her parents are prison guards, so they've moved around a LOT, and they promised this would be the last time. Ashley is Norah's only friend, and she is worried that they'll drift apart with all of the changes coming their way. On top of that, her mom is super strict and that makes Norah worried about everything. When her mom agrees to let Norah dye her hair blonde like Ashley, Norah is super excited. Things don't go quite the way she imagined though, and school isn't seeming much better. After an accident in the kitchen, Norah shares it as a funny story at school, leading to a chain of events that spirals out of control until Norah isn't sure how to keep up anymore.
This book had a lot of plot packed into the 250 page space. It was compelling but I felt like there were a lot of themes that could have been explored. Throughout the book, it feels as if Norah is neurodivergent coded, but that isn't explained and she isn't generally supported in any way. Instead, her mother is over critical of small things that lead Norah to be anxious and unsure of herself. I felt that this would be extremely relatable to any other neurodivergent people reading it, and I even thought at different points that Norah's actions were a clear sign that she was struggling with unclear communication and expectations which is a hallmark of neurodivergency. I related to her a lot, especially during the kitchen scene. Her mother asks her to make a cup of tea as she isn't feeling well, but no one has ever taught Norah how to use the stove properly or that metal doesn't go in the microwave. When her mother yells at her over the incident that could have been extremely dangerous, she is belittled and told she "should have known better." While I think this will resonate with many kids, I think it'll especially hit for kids who struggle with subtext and inferring what people want without clear communication.
The story progresses where one of Norah's classmates shares a similar, albeit more severe case, that leads to CPS intervening. This causes a lot of anxiety for her later on, as her mother gets transferred and moves with her sister, leaving her with her dad. She can't keep up with the housework and cooking on her own, her hair gets completely wrecked by her dye experiments (and because no one has shown her how to care for it properly,) and she starts to worry that CPS will come and take her, too. Throughout the story, she learns how to speak up for herself and get help when she needs it, which alleviates a lot of her burden. After that, her family is moving AGAIN, much to the dismay of Norah and her sister. There is a lot of family struggle throughout, but everyone attempts to be better about the things they've struggled with and things end on a positive note.
The art style was simple and cartoony, which would appeal to the younger graphic novel fans. There is also some nice Indigenous People's representation, as Norah's new teacher is a member of the Yakama Nation. At the end, we see her in dance regalia, which was a nice touch. There was also a land acknowledgement at the end of the graphic novel, which could spark some interesting discussions or questions. The color palette is varied and while the body types are mostly the same throughout the story, a few of Norah's classmates have some diverse characteristics. It isn't a focus of the novel though.
The cover features a teal background, Norah's family, and a larger picture of Norah in the process of bleaching her hair. It is bright and will appeal to fans of the Baby-Sitters Club books, as the art style feels familiar. It would also be a great segue into teaching kids about CPS, why things like that happen, how family drama isn't really a kid's fault, possibly as an opening to talk about neurodivergency/anxiety, and more. It had a lot going on, and people will take away different things from it. But overall it was a straightforward book with a linear story, even if it wasn't a clear "beginning, middle, end" where one problem is resolved kind of book. It had a lot going for it and I did find it a decent read.
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Find more about Knots on Teachingbooks.net
For more information about this book, see the Publisher's Website
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